Multifunctional nanocarriers of Fe3O4@PLA-PEG/curcumin for MRI, magnetic hyperthermia and drug delivery.

Background: Despite medicinal advances, cancer is still a big problem requiring better diagnostic and treatment tools. Magnetic nanoparticle (MNP)-based nanosystems for multiple-purpose applications were developed for these unmet needs. Methods: This study fabricated novel trifunctional MNPs of Fe3O4@PLA-PEG for drug release, MRI and magnetic fluid hyperthermia. Result: The MNPs provided a significant loading of curcumin (∼11%) with controllable release ability, a high specific absorption rate of 82.2 W/g and significantly increased transverse relaxivity (r2 = 364.75 mM-1 s-1). The in vivo study confirmed that the MNPs enhanced MRI contrast in tumor observation and low-field magnetic fluid hyperthermia could effectively reduce the tumor size in mice bearing sarcoma 180. Conclusion: The nanocarrier has potential for drug release, cancer treatment monitoring and therapy.

In this study, the authors designed and fabricated novel magnetic trifunctional nanoparticles of Fe₃O₄@PLA-PEG. The 8.5 nm Fe₃O₄ core was covered with the polymeric matrix of PLA-PEG to encapsulate an anticancer agent of curcumin at a content of about 11%. Curcumin release from the nanoparticles (NPs) could be controlled by applying a remote alternating magnetic field. The NPs enhanced MRI contrast, which allowed the authors to better distinguish the tumor and surroundings in MR images, which would help monitor treatment. The heat that NPs generated when applied to a field at low intensity could effectively reduce the tumor size in mice bearing sarcoma 180. The nanocarrier, therefore, has potential for cancer treatment monitoring and drug release conjuvant with magnetic hyperthermia therapy.

In vitro and in vivo targeting effect of folate decorated paclitaxel loaded PLA-TPGS nanoparticles.

Paclitaxel is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents for treating various types of cancer. However, the clinical application of paclitaxel in cancer treatment is considerably limited due to its poor water solubility and low therapeutic index. Thus, it requires an urgent solution to improve therapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel. In this study, folate decorated paclitaxel loaded PLA-TPGS nanoparticles were prepared by a modified emulsification/solvent evaporation method. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) method. The spherical nanoparticles were around 50 nm in size with a narrow size distribution. Targeting effect of nanoparticles was investigated in vitro on cancer cell line and in vivo on tumor bearing nude mouse. The results indicated the effective targeting of folate decorated paclitaxel loaded copolymer nanoparticles on cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo.

A new fluorescent chemosensor for Hg2+ in aqueous solution.

We prepared an aminothiourea-derived Schiff base (DA) as a fluorescent chemosensor for Hg(2+) ions. Addition of 1 equiv of Hg(2+) ions to the aqueous solution of DA gave rise to an obvious fluorescence enhancement and the subsequent addition of more Hg(2+) induced gradual fluorescence quenching. Other competing ions, including Pb(2+), Cd(2+), Cr(3+), Zn(2+), Fe(2+), Co(3+), Ni(2+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), K(+) and Na(+) , did not induce any distinct fluorescence changes, indicating that DA can selectively detect Hg(2+) ions in aqueous solution.